What should I cook for my vegetarian girlfriend?

Question

I have a girlfriend who is a vegetarian and I invited her to dinner at my house and I need a vegetarian meal to cook her. I am not a vegetairian so I don't know what to cook her that does not have meat in it. Could anyone give me any ideas on what I can cook her and why?

Answer 1

buy some tofu things and have a salad no meat in any thing

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

I'm a vegan in an omnivore world. Last school year (August 2006-07) my husband, who is pursuing his master's of divinity degree, did his internship year where he worked as a student pastor. Many of the congregational families had us into their homes for lunches and dinners and I was even blessed with a baby shower that included a lunch. They knew that I'm vegan and before the day of the meal, they asked me or my husband what I "could" and "couldn't" eat. That's my point-- Instead of asking a bunch of strangers what your girlfriend eats, ask her. As has been said, by now you should have observed what she does and doesn't eat, other than no meat (which includes fish). If she's vegan (which I'm guessing not since you said vegetarian), then that would also include no eggs, dairy, and other animal byproducts. (For some vegans, honey is a gray area. I eat honey, or at least food with honey, because it makes things a mite easier with my meat-eating husband who already does plenty of vegan meals with me.)

Of all of the meals we had I'm not sure if I really walked away hungry. Maybe once, but even then, I politely ate the salad with cheese, because I was already hungry and pregnant (when I was pregnant, I did not put off eating; Even now that I'm nursing I don't like to wait). When I got home, though, I made myself a sandwhich.

Below are some good sites that have some good recipes. Also, when baking, smooth, store bought apple sauce works for both an baking oil and egg substitue, as does bananas. However, a banana taste might come out, depending on the recipe. (The other night my husband made pancakes from the Hodgston Mills whole wheat mix and added apple sauce. The result was banana tasting pancakes. He added some cinnamon as well. With a bit of Smart Balance spread and some real Maple Syrup, they were quite good.)

Below are some sites that might be of some help.

Answer 4

If you like pasta, you can cook her spaghetti with marinara sauce. Amy's makes several varieties of jarred pasta sauce, all of them vegetarian.

You can make a meatless lasagna and use veggie crumbles (most grocery stores carry them).

If she likes chili, you can make a meatless chili and crumble tempeh (a cake made of fermented soybeans. It has a nutty, chewy flavor and texture) in it.

You can do a veggie stir-fry with veggie strips. Both Morningstar Farms and Lightlife make them.

You can make veggie fajitas or tacos (you can find taco-flavored veggie crumbles, too).

You can marinate and grill portobello mushrooms, then slice them and fan them over mashed potatoes. Or grill them and serve them with corn on the cob and a few other veggies.

Check out www.vegweb.com for more ideas. And until you get better at vegetarian cooking, try to keep it as simple as possible. Cooking tofu takes some practice, but once you get the hang of it, you'll be making tasty tofu dishes.

When you think about it, a lot of things you make probably are or can easily be made vegetarian.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Slice one accorn squash in half and rub the whole thing inside and out with olive oil. Place flat side down on a baking sheet and cook in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Meanwhile sautee various veggetables together including peppers, onions, zuccini, mushrooms, cabbage, carrots, ect. Whatever you both like. Add in some seitan or garbonza beans and some garlic and basil. Flip the accorn squash and fill with sauteed veggies. Cook for another 15 mintues. You can also try sauteeing bell peppers, onions, zuccini, garlic, peas, and roma tomatos with some worchershire sauce and season with white pepper, and a hint on salt and cheyenne pepper and ground cummin add in 1/4 cup of soy milk and a dash of marsala cooking wine and sautee for 5 mintues. Grill a whole portobella mushroom in a skillet with worchershire sauce and then pour vegetables over the top and serve.

Answer 6

If she is vegetarian (not vegan), pasta with tomato sauce, salad, bread, and beverage. Go crazy on the salad with croutons, nuts (toasted pecans!), dried cranberries and good tomatoes. Newman's own makes good salad dressing, raspberry vinaigrette has very little garlic if you plan to kiss her. For the pasta, Newman's Own makes good sauce from a jar. To be fancy on the sauce you can add your own sauteed mushrooms and fake meat (burger or sausage), and fresh chopped basil. To make it killer good, shave some Parmesan cheese on the top from an honest hunk of Parmesan picked from the cheese section of the store (not the can of shake on stuff in the pasta aisle). If she's not vegan- cheesecake for dessert.

Answer 7

cooking for someone you love is the why...and it's great that you are willing to learn new recipes just for her. Here are some recipe sites that will keep your g/f coming back for more!!
http://www.veganchef.com/
http://www.vrg.org/journal/index.htm#Recipes

here is an easy one for the first time..
HEARTY PASTA AND PINK BEANS
Serves: 6

Use hearty pasta from the frozen foods section for this filling dish. All you need to complete this meal is a bountiful tossed salad and some fresh bread.
16-ounce bag frozen tortellini (ricotta, tofu, or vegetable-filled), ravioli, ricotta cavatelli, or gnocchi
Two 16-ounce cans pink beans, drained and rinsed
28-ounce jar good-quality chunky marinara sauce
Bring water to a boil in a large pot and cook the frozen pasta according to package directions. Just before draining, add the beans to the water and cook briefly to heat them. Drain the mixture well and transfer to a serving container.

Stir in the marinara sauce and serve at once.

if it's only for 2 ppl just cut everything in half...have fun

Answer 8

cook vegetarian girlfriend

Answer 9

whole wheat(or not) pasta with chunky vegetable marinara sauce(it be cute if you made it yourself or you can just buy it) and either garlic bread or bread sticks(again cute if you made it, but fine if you buy it, making good bread is really tricky) or you can make pizza, yes MAKE pizza the dough, everything, there are really easy pizza dough recipes, add mozzarella a provolone cheese and whatever topping you want(besides meat) before either meal, it be nice to add a salad an Italian or Cesar would be good, Italian foods adds a really subtle touch of romance and care to any setting, also, girls love carbs, even if they don't admit it, good luck, hope she likes it.......oh don't forget the Parmesan cheese

Answer 10

Try making a pasta dish with a wonderful cheese sauce or marinara sauce, serve with a salad, bread sticks, and for desert a nice sorbet. Good luck

Answer 11

Roasted Cauliflower with Spaghetti and Caramelized Onions
Serves 4 to 6

Preheat the oven to 350F

5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt
Grinding black pepper
1 small head cauliflower, cored and separated into 1-inch florets
1 large red onion, peeled and thinly sliced
1 pound spaghetti
1/2 cup grated Pecorino cheese

Combine three tablespoons of the olive oil, salt and pepper in a bowl. Add the florets and toss well to coat.

Transfer the florets to a baking dish large enough to hold them in a single layer.

Bake them for about 20 to 25 minutes, turning them once or twice, until they look lightly browned. Set aside.

Meanwhile heat the remaining olive oil in a large saute’ pan. (12 to 14 inches) Add the onions and cook them slowly over medium heat until they are wilted, have given off their liquid, and appear glazed looking. Season them with salt and pepper to taste. Keep warm while the spaghetti cooks.

Cook the spaghetti in four to six quarts of rapidly boiling water to which 1 tablespoon of salt has been added. Cook just until al dente; break a strand in half and if white flour is visible, cook longer. It is cooked when flour is no longer visible.

Drain the spaghetti in a colander, reserving 2 tablespoons of the cooking water.

Transfer the spaghetti to the saute’ pan with the onion. Add the florets and reserved water. Heat everything together until hot. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer the mixture to a platter and sprinkle the cheese over the top.

Broccoli and Pasta

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 1/2 cups fresh broccoli florets
3 cloves large garlic, finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 (9-ounce) package BUITONI® Fettuccine, cooked, drained and kept warm
1/3 cup freshly grated Romano cheese

Heat oil in large skillet; add broccoli, garlic and crushed red pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until broccoli is crisp-tender.
Add pasta; toss to coat well. Sprinkle with cheese; toss lightly. Serve immediately.
Makes 3 servings.

hope these help. enjoy.